Ralph D'Agostino of Immaculata is The Star-Ledger's boys lacrosse state Player of the Year for 2011

Frances Micklow/The Star-LedgerRalph D'Agostino of Immaculata is The Star-Ledger's boys lacrosse state Player of the Year for 2011.

Ralph D’Agostino originally went to Immaculata to be a part of its excellent football program.

Lacrosse was really just a side interest when he entered the Somerville school in the fall of 2007, a nice complement to his true passion.

``As a kid, I told everyone I was going to play football at Miami,’’ D’Agostino said. ``That was my dream.’’

D’Agostino, like so many of us, soon found out that reality has a funny way of altering dreams. His shifted rather seismically in that first year of high school, though the rumbling beneath his cleated feet actually signaled a move to better things.

The reality that set in for the Tewksbury resident soon eclipsed all those fantasies of compiling tackles for the Hurricanes. He’ll continue his lacrosse career at national powerhouse Syracuse.

``I thought I was pretty good in lacrosse, but football was my thing,’’ he said. ``But when I came in as a freshman I got on the (varsity lacrosse) field and saw that I could make an impact right away. That summer I was doing well and I was hooked. I didn’t want the season to end.’’

D’Agostino’s hunger for the sport is yet to be sated. He is intrigued by all facets of the game and driven to excel in each of those areas. If there were a 7-Eleven for lacrosse, you’d find D’Agostino taking advantage of the bargain refills any time you stopped in.

``I could play it every day. I mean that,’’ he said. ``And when I play, I want to be in the action 24/7. I hate being on the bench. I always want to make something happen.’’

D’Agostino has done just that with such consistency and versatility, it is difficult to define the role he works so hard at perfecting. He brings a lot of hats to the event and they all seem to fit.

D’Agostino is a premier defender, but also a feared source of offense. A deadly shooter (25 goals this season) who would still rather fight you for a ground ball than take an open shot. A fierce wing man on the draw who also faces off.

D’Agostino’s stellar defensive play has helped Immaculata go 60-20 over the last four seasons, claim the last three NJSIAA Non-Public B championships and the 2010 Somerset County Tournament title. The squad was 19-2 this spring, with its only losses coming against Bridgewater-Raritan--the Tournament of Champions winner—in the Somerset County Tournament final and the T of C semifinals.

``It hurts to have those two losses, especially to such a good, close rival,’’ D’Agostino said. ``We all wanted to play better.’’

Still, Immaculata’s season was filled with memorable victories, such as its 9-8 game against Bridgewater in their first meeting, a, 12-5 decision over Montclair Kimberley Academy in the Non-Public B state final and a wonderfully executed 13-10 triumph over Lawrenceville.

``That was without a doubt the best game for me,’’ D’Agostino said. He played brilliantly on defense and also poured in a career-tying four goals. ``We went into that game knowing we had nothing to lose and we all came to play; every single one of us played our best lacrosse.’’

D’Agostino continued to play football for Immaculata all four years and played it well. And the tough, disciplined gridder in the youngster is a defining element of his lacrosse game.

``I don’t think I’m the best at anything, but I think I’m versatile,’’ he said. ``I think I’m pretty good at a lot of different things.’’